The deliberations in the J&K Legislative Assembly have once again exposed glaring loopholes in the Union Territory’s Mining Policy. Legislators across party lines voiced strong criticism, describing the existing framework as “detrimental to livelihoods” and “counterproductive” to the region’s developmental goals. While the intent behind the policy-to ensure sustainable extraction and prevent misuse of natural resources-was noble, its implementation has left common people, particularly local workers, paying the heaviest price. The steep escalation in the prices of basic construction materials such as sand and gravel is a telling indicator of the policy’s failure. A truckload of sand that once cost Rs 6,000 now costs Rs 20,000, and even then, it is not easily available. This more than threefold rise has hit both the construction sector and the ordinary citizen who dreams of building a house. It is ironic that in a resource-rich region, material scarcity has stalled developmental projects, while the government continues to boast about enhanced revenue generation. Revenue is important, but the availability of affordable building materials for the general public should remain the prime focus.
Adding to the irony, while farmers are prohibited from even selling mud from their own land, reports of illegal mining and frequent seizures of vehicles engaged in such activity suggest that smugglers continue to operate with impunity. This contradiction underscores the policy’s misplaced priorities and the weak enforcement that allows exploitation rather than regulation. Mechanised mining, introduced to streamline extraction, has indeed increased yield but has simultaneously fuelled rampant, unmonitored riverbed mining, threatening the environment and eroding livelihoods. The human cost of this flawed policy is undeniable. Thousands of local labourers who once depended on manual sand and gravel extraction for their daily wages have been rendered jobless. Instead of empowering local communities, the current regime has handed over control to external contractors and large firms, leaving the local population economically stranded.
It is time the Government revisits the Mining Policy with a pragmatic and people-centric approach. A balanced model-ensuring sustainable use of natural resources, protecting livelihoods, curbing illegal operations, and making construction materials affordable-is the need of the hour. Without immediate corrective measures, the policy meant to preserve J&K’s resources may end up alienating its people from what rightfully belongs to them.
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